NEWS HEADLINES

MCNORTON CHILDREN ACCOUNT – An account for the three young children of Samantha Jo McNorton has been opened at Legend Bank. Donations may be made at any Legend Bank location.

GT NOMINATIONS – Alvord ISD Gifted and Talented Services are now accepting nominations for the spring 2013 gifted and talented identification process. Nomination forms may be obtained at all three campus offices and by visiting www.alvordisd.net. The deadline to nominate a student currently enrolled in grades K-11 in the Alvord district is Friday, Jan. 11, 2013. Contact Kaysi Hamilton, Alvord Gifted and Talented coordinator, at khamilton@alvordisd.net for more information.

SENIOR CARE ANGELS – Senior Care Center and Rehab in Bridgeport has an angel tree in need of adoptions. Each angel represents one of 117 residents and includes a list of possible gifts for each resident. These gifts will be given to residents on Christmas morning. Angel gifts need to be turned in by Friday, Dec. 21, to Activity Director Patricia Henson or to the front office. Gifts should be wrapped with the angel list taped on the gift.

HOUSING AUTHORITY POLICY REVIEW – The Bridgeport Housing Authority annual and five-year plan policy changes and utility allowance are now available for a 45-day public review. A meeting to discuss the review will be 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 1508 Cobb St.

CARDS IN THE PARK – Bridgeport Parks and Rec’s sixth annual Christmas Cards in the Park will be displayed through Sunday, Jan. 6, in Harwood Park. Call (940) 683-3480 for more information.

CHICO

TRASH PICK-UP – Trash pick-up the week of Christmas and New Year’s will be on Thursday, instead of Wednesday. City Hall will be closed on Christmas Eve, and it will close at noon on New Year’s Eve.

ANGEL GARDEN – The angel garden on the Square will remain lit until Saturday, Jan. 5. For more information, call Tammy Sosa at (940) 393-1726.

DECATUR

RODEO TICKETS – The Decatur Chamber of Commerce has tickets available for Decatur night at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased at the chamber office, 308 W. Main, with either check or exact cash, no debit or credit card transactions. For more information, call (940) 627-3107.

SOCKS FOR SENIORS – Donate pairs of new, adult socks for residents in area nursing homes at Market Place in Decatur from now until Dec. 22. Market Place personnel will distribute them for Christmas. Superior Auto Repair in Decatur is also collecting Socks for Seniors. For more information, visit www.socksforseniors.com.

BENEFIT ACCOUNT – A benefit account for Laura Davis has been established at DATCU in Decatur. Davis is uninsured and in need of a liver transplant.

PARADISE

CHAMBER MEETING – The Paradise Chamber of Commerce is meeting noon Thursday, Dec. 20, at the Bridgeport Country Club. Board members should be present to make reports.

WISE COUNTY

BLOOD DRIVE – Wise Regional Health System in Decatur is having a blood drive for Carter BloodCare 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20. The bus will be in front of the hospital. To pre-register, call Annette Raley at (940) 626-0167, or just drop in.

REGISTRATION CONTINUES – Registration for spring 2013 classes at Weatherford College Wise County continues this week. The WCWC offices are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday. For more information, call (940) 627-2690 or email wisecounty@wc.edu.

RINGERS NEEDED – Local volunteers are needed to ring the Salvation Army bell in front of Wal-Mart in Decatur. Two-hour slots are available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. All money collected stays in Wise County. To sign up your group, call Tana Fedric at (940) 627-5859. If you have already signed up, call Fedric to confirm your time.

RED CROSS TO CELEBRATE – The Wise County Red Cross will be celebrating the holidays 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec 20, at the EMS building, 1101 W Rose Ave. in Decatur. Everyone is welcome to join the festivities and to learn more about volunteer opportunities in Wise County. If you have a holiday specialty, please bring to share.

NORTHWEST ISD

GRANT NOMINATION – Northwest High School’s Big Event, a community service program, has been nominated for up to $50,000 in grants from Clorox. Through Dec. 19, adults and children 13 and older may vote once a day for the program they believe is most deserving of a grant at www.PowerABrightFuture.com or text 1152pbf to 95248. The program that receives the highest number of votes will be awarded the $50,000 grant. The next highest scores will each receive a $25,000 grant.

TEXTS FROM NISD – In January, Northwest ISD will add text messaging notifications as a communication tool for parents and staff. The district will send a one-time message Wednesday, Jan. 23, to cell phone numbers in the student information database inviting parents and staff to complete the opt-in process. To opt out, do not respond. To update information in the database, contact your child’s campus. For more information, go to www.SchoolMessenger.com/tm.

17TH ELEMENTARY – Construction is under way on the district’s 17th elementary school on Litsey Road in Roanoke, near the Seventeen Lakes housing development. Funds from the 2008 bond referendum will be used to construct the 103,926-square-foot campus that features an expanded cafeteria and gymnasium, open space, enclosed courtyard, flex spaces and energy efficient amenities. This is the first elementary campus designed to accommodate the 850 student capacity implemented last year. The school will open in August.

NAMING SCHOOLS – Nominate names for elementary school No. 17 and comprehensive high school No. 3 Jan. 7 to Feb. 7 at www.nisdtx.org/schoolnames.

PARENT SURVEY – Provide valuable feedback by completing the Northwest ISD 2012-2013 Parent Survey that will be sent to parent email addresses in January. A hard copy may be requested by calling (817) 215-0171.

HEALTH FAIR – NISD and Texas Health Resources Alliance will hold a health fair 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at the new Texas Health Resources Alliance Hospital (10864 Texas Health Trail, Fort Worth, 76244). The hospital will offer free BMI, blood pressure and bone density screenings and present information on car seat safety. Students from NISD’s Academy of Medical Professions will provide tours of the new facility. The NISD Elementary School Honor Choir, Medlin Middle School orchestra quartet, Square Dancing Club, O.A. Peterson Elementary School choir, Northwest High School cheerleaders and the Northwest High School dance ensemble will also perform.

EARLY RELEASE – Northwest ISD campuses will dismiss early Thursday and Friday, Jan. 17 and 18, at the following times – elementary schools at 12:15 p.m.; Steele Accelerated High School at 1:05 p.m.; Byron Nelson and Northwest high schools at 1:15 p.m.; and middle schools at 2 p.m.